Hydraulic Three Position Stroker Tool

ABSTRACT

A stroker tool operates a subterranean tool between three operating positions. The stroker tool includes an outer housing defining a piston chamber within. A piston assembly having first and second piston members is moveable within the piston chamber between a first position, a second position, and a third position. A shifting member is operably connected with the piston assembly and is moved to an uppermost axial position when the piston assembly is in the first position, an intermediate axial position when the piston assembly is in the second position, and a lowermost axial position when the piston assembly is in the third position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to tools used to operate downhole devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

Stroker tools are used to actuate other downhole tools, such as sliding sleeve valves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides devices and methods for actuating sliding sleeve valves or other devices. An exemplary hydraulically-actuated, three-position stroker tool is described that includes an outer housing which defines a central bore and piston chambers. A piston assembly having first and second piston members is moveably disposed within the piston chambers. The first and second pistons are also moveable with respect to one another. In a described embodiment, fluid flow lines are interconnected with the outer housing to selectively inject fluid into the piston chambers in order to move the first and second piston members within the piston chambers and with respect to each other.

In a described embodiment, a stinger, or shifting tool, is affixed to and moves with the second piston. The stinger is operably interconnected with the well tool to be actuated. In a described embodiment, the stinger is interconnected with the sliding sleeve member of a sliding sleeve valve.

In operation, the stroker tool is associated with a downhole tool that is moveable between three positions. Fluid is then selectively flowed into the stroker tool to move the piston assembly between its first, second and/or third configurations in order to move the associated downhole tool between its three positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and other aspects of the invention will be readily appreciated by those of skill in the art and better understood with further reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or similar elements throughout the several figures of the drawings and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side, cross-sectional view of an exemplary wellbore containing a production assembly with a sliding sleeve device and a stroker tool constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the sliding sleeve device and stroker tool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side, cross-sectional view of the exemplary stroker tool used with the production assembly of FIG. 1 and in a first configuration.

FIG. 4 is a side, cross-sectional view of the stroker tool shown in FIG. 2, now in a second configuration.

FIG. 5 is a side, cross-sectional view of the stroker tool shown in FIG. 3, now in a third configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are side, cross-sectional views of an exemplary wellbore 10 that has been drilled through the earth 12 from the surface 14 to a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation 16. The wellbore 10 is lined with metallic casing 18, of a type known in the art. Perforations 20 are disposed through the casing 18 and into the formation 16 to allow hydrocarbon fluids to enter the wellbore 10.

The wellbore 10 contains a production assembly, generally indicated at 22. The production assembly 22 has been disposed into the wellbore 10 by a running string 24. The running string 24 may be formed of coiled tubing or standard production tubing. An axial fluid flowbore 26 is defined within running string 24 to transmit hydrocarbon fluid from the formation 16 to the surface 14. The production assembly 22 includes a sliding sleeve valve 28 which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. In an exemplary embodiment, the sliding sleeve valve 28 includes an outer housing 30 having outer fluid flow openings 32 disposed therethrough. A sleeve member 34 is disposed within the housing 30 and has inner fluid flow openings 36 which can be selectively aligned with the outer fluid flow openings 32 as the sleeve member 34 is moved axially with respect to the housing 30. By axial movement of the sleeve member 34 within the housing 30, the valve 28 is axially moveable within between open, partially open and closed positions. The open position corresponds to a substantially complete alignment of the inner fluid flow openings 36 with the outer fluid flow openings 32. The partially open position corresponds to a less-than-complete alignment of the inner fluid flow openings 36 with the outer fluid flow openings 32 so that some fluid can flow through the valve 28. The closed position corresponds to a complete non-alignment of the inner and outer fluid flow openings 36, 32 so that fluid flow through the valve 28 is completely blocked.

A stroker tool 38 constructed in accordance with the present invention is incorporated into the production assembly 22 and is operably associated with the sliding sleeve valve 28 for operation of the valve 28 between the open, partially open and closed positions. An exemplary stroker tool 38 is depicted in greater detail in FIGS. 3-5. As is depicted in FIG. 2, a stinger, or shifting tool member 40 from the stroker tool 38 is affixed to the sleeve member 34 so that movement of the shifting tool member 40 will move the sleeve member 34 axially within the housing 30 of the sliding sleeve valve 28.

The exemplary stroker tool 38 includes a generally cylindrical outer housing 42 with axial ends 44, 46. In the depicted embodiment, the first axial end 44 has a box-type threaded connection 48 while the second axial end 46 has a pin-type threaded connection 50 so that the housing 42 can be incorporated into the production assembly 22. The outer housing 42 defines a central axial fluid flow passage 52 along its length. The axial fluid flow passage 52 includes a piston chamber 53 having first and second enlarged piston chamber portions 54, 56, respectively. In the depicted embodiment, the first piston chamber portion 54 has a larger diameter than the second piston chamber portion 56. A shoulder 57 is defined between the first and second piston chamber portions 54, 56.

A first piston member 58 is located within the first piston chamber portion 54 and the upper portion of the second piston chamber portion 56. The first piston member 58 has a central tubular body portion 60 with an outwardly-projecting peripheral flange 62. The flange 62 projects outwardly into the first piston chamber portion 54.

A second piston member 64 is disposed primarily within the second piston chamber portion 56. The exemplary second piston member 64 includes a radially enlarged central portion 66. The central portion 66 presents a lower end face 67 and an upper end face 69. A radially reduced upper piston portion 68 extends axially upwardly from the central portion 66. The stinger 40 extends axially downwardly form the central portion 66. An axial fluid bore 70 is defined along the length of the second piston member 64. A number of annular seals 72 are located within the axial flow passage 52 and form fluid seals against the second piston member 64. The first piston member 58 has an inner annular seal 74 that forms a fluid seal between the first piston member 58 and the second piston member 64. In addition, the first piston member 58 carries an outer annular seal 76 that forms a fluid seal against the outer housing 42. The first and second piston members 58, 64 collectively form a piston assembly that is moveable between three configurations.

In the depicted embodiment, three fluid flow lines 78, 80, 82 allow fluid to be injected into or removed from the piston chamber 53 of the stroker tool 38. FIG. 1 depicts the fluid flow lines 78, 80, 82 in operable association with a fluid supply 84 and pump 86 located at surface 14. The flow lines 78, 80, 82 may be individually pressurized with fluid from the fluid supply 84 or, alternatively, vented to allow fluid to flow out of the flow line 78, 80 or 82.

FIG. 3 depicts the stroker tool 38 in a first configuration wherein the shifting tool 40 is in an axially uppermost position. This first position for the sliding sleeve valve 28 would correspond to one of the extreme positions (either fully open or fully closed) for the sliding sleeve valve 38. In the first configuration of the piston assembly, the first piston member 58 and the second piston member 64 of the stroker tool 38 are in their furthest upward positions within the first and second piston chamber portions 54, 56. This first configuration for the piston assembly may be a run-in position for the stroker tool 38.

FIG. 4 depicts the stroker tool 38 in a second configuration wherein the first piston member 58 is moved fully axially downwardly to its lowermost position, and the second piston member 64 is in an intermediate position. The first piston member 58 is in its lowermost position because the flange 62 of the first piston member 58 has bottomed out on the shoulder 57 of the housing 42. The stroker tool 38 is moved from the first configuration (FIG. 3) to the second configuration (FIG. 4) by pressurizing the first fluid flow line 78 and venting the second fluid flow line 80. Fluid will flow from the fluid supply 84 into the first piston chamber 54. Fluid pressure will act upon the upper end face 85 of the first piston member 58, urging the first piston member 58 downwardly. Downward movement of the first piston member 58 will also urge the second piston member 64 axially downwardly within the housing 42 to its intermediate position causing fluid to vent on line 82.

FIG. 5 depicts the stroker tool 38 in a third configuration wherein both the first and second piston members 58, 64 are moved to their lowermost axial positions within the first and second piston chamber portions 54, 56. The second piston member 64 is moved axially downwardly until the lower end face 67 of the enlarged portion 66 of the second piston member 64 bottoms out on the lower end 86 of the second piston chamber portion 56. To move the stroker tool 38 to the third configuration (FIG. 5) from the second configuration (FIG. 4), the third fluid flow line 82 is vented, while the first and second fluid flow lines 78, 80 are pressurized. Fluid pressure from the second fluid flow line 80 is applied to the upper end face 69 of the second piston member 64 to move the second piston member 64 downwardly.

From the third configuration (FIG. 5), the stroker tool 38 can be returned to either the first or second configurations by selectively pressurizing and venting the appropriate fluid flow lines 78, 80, 82. For example, to return the stroker tool 38 to the first configuration (FIG. 3), the first and second fluid flow lines 78, 80 are vented while the third fluid flow line 82 is pressurized. This causes fluid pressure to act upon the lower end face 67 of the central portion 66 of the second piston member 64 and urge both the first and second piston members 58, 64 to their uppermost positions. Alternatively, the stroker tool 38 could be moved from the third configuration (FIG. 5) to the second configuration (FIG. 4) by pressurizing the first and third fluid flow lines 78, 82 and venting the second fluid flow line 80.

Although shown in use operating a sliding sleeve valve, a stroker tool constructed in accordance with the present invention might be used to operate other subterranean or wellbore tools. The stroker tool might, for example, be used to move a ball valve between open, closed and recirculating positions.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that numerous modifications and changes may be made to the exemplary designs and embodiments described herein and that the invention is limited only by the claims that follow and any equivalents thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A stroker tool for operating a subterranean tool between three operating positions, the stroker tool comprising: an outer housing defining a piston chamber within; a piston assembly that is moveable within the piston chamber between a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration; and a shifting member operably connected with the piston assembly that is moved to an uppermost axial position when the piston assembly is in the first configuration, an intermediate axial position when the piston assembly is in the second configuration, and a lowermost axial position when the piston assembly is in the third configuration.
 2. The stroker tool of claim 1 wherein the piston assembly comprises: a first piston member that is axially moveable within the piston chamber between upper and lower positions; and a second piston member that is axially moveable within the piston chamber between upper, lower and intermediate positions, the shifting member being affixed to the second piston member.
 3. The stroker tool of claim 1 wherein the piston chamber includes: a first chamber portion; and a second chamber portion, the first chamber portion having a larger diameter than the second chamber portion.
 4. The stroker tool of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of fluid flow lines associated with the outer housing to selectively flow fluid into and out of the piston chamber to move the piston assembly between the first, second and third configurations.
 5. The stroker tool of claim 4 wherein there are three fluid flow lines.
 6. The stroker tool of claim 1 wherein the subterranean tool comprises a sliding sleeve valve.
 7. A stroker tool for operating a subterranean tool between three operating positions, the stroker tool comprising: an outer housing defining a piston chamber within; a piston assembly that is moveable within the piston chamber between a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration, the piston assembly having a first piston member and a second piston member; and a shifting member operably connected with the piston assembly that is moved to an uppermost axial position when the piston assembly is in the first configuration, an intermediate axial position when the piston assembly is in the second configuration, and a lowermost axial position when the piston assembly is in the third configuration.
 8. The stroker tool of claim 7 wherein the piston chamber includes: a first chamber portion; and a second chamber portion, the first chamber portion having a larger diameter than the second chamber portion.
 9. The stroker tool of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of fluid flow lines associated with the outer housing to selectively flow fluid into and out of the piston chamber to move the piston assembly between the first, second and third configurations.
 10. The stroker tool of claim 9 wherein there are three fluid flow lines.
 11. The stroker tool of claim 7 wherein the subterranean tool comprises a sliding sleeve valve.
 12. The stroker tool of claim 7 wherein: the first piston member is axially moveable within the piston chamber between upper and lower positions; and the second piston member is axially moveable within the piston chamber between upper, lower and intermediate positions, the shifting member being affixed to the second piston member.
 13. A method of actuating a subterranean tool comprising the steps of: associating a shifting tool of a stroker tool with a subterranean tool that is moveable between three positions; and selectively moving a piston assembly within the stroker tool between first, second and third configurations to cause the shifting tool to move the subterranean tool between its first, second and third positions.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of selectively moving a piston assembly within the stroker tool further comprises selectively injecting hydraulic fluid into the piston chamber.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of selectively moving a piston assembly within the stroker tool further comprises moving a first piston member and a second piston member within the piston chamber.
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein: the subterranean tool is a sliding sleeve valve; the first position corresponds to a fully open position for the sliding sleeve valve; the second position corresponds to a partially open position for the sliding sleeve valve; and the third position corresponds to a fully closed position for the sliding sleeve valve. 